同窓会(どうそうかい)

どうそうかい
noun
class reunion; alumni association
societyeducation
1. class reunion; alumni gathering
A social gathering of former classmates or schoolmates, typically organized years after graduation to reconnect.
来月(らいげつ)、同窓会(どうそうかい)がある。
There is a class reunion next month.
二十年(にじゅうねん)ぶりの同窓会(どうそうかい)で懐(なつ)かしい顔(かお)に再会(さいかい)した。
I was reunited with familiar faces at the reunion after twenty years.
同窓会(どうそうかい)に出席(しゅっせき)したら、みんなずいぶん変(か)わっていて驚(おどろ)いた。
When I attended the class reunion, I was surprised at how much everyone had changed.
2. alumni association
A formal organization of graduates from a particular school that maintains connections among alumni.
同窓会(どうそうかい)の名簿(めいぼ)を更新(こうしん)する。
To update the alumni association directory.
同窓会(どうそうかい)が奨学金(しょうがくきん)を設立(せつりつ)した。
The alumni association established a scholarship.
同窓会(どうそうかい)の会長(かいちょう)に選(えら)ばれた。
I was elected president of the alumni association.

同窓会(どうそうかい) refers to both informal class reunion gatherings and formal alumni associations. A very common word in Japanese social life.

Etymology

同窓(どうそう) (same school — literally "same window," where 窓(まど) represents the classroom) + 会(かい) (meeting, association).

Common collocations

Cultural note

Class reunions are an important part of Japanese social culture. They are typically organized around milestone years after graduation (5, 10, 20 years). The 幹事(かんじ) (organizer) role is often rotated among classmates.

Related words

Related Words

Related: 同窓生(どうそうせい) (fellow alumnus, former classmate)
Related: 同級生(どうきゅうせい) (classmate)
Related: 卒業生(そつぎょうせい) (graduate, alumnus)
Compare: 校友会(こうゆうかい) (alumni association)
general
Added 2026.3.8 22:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15875_dousoukai